For a season that began with a singular dominant force in the Moncton Magic, week nine exemplified just how far the pendulum has swung since.

Perennialbottom-dwellers,Windsor Express, Saint John Riptide and the Island Storm, stunned its superiors by going a combined 7-1 (win-loss) for the week with each club putting together some form of a season-best streak in the process.

An undermannedHighlanders squadgot off to a solid start on its four-game Ontario road swing as it went 2-1 this past week, playing three games in four nights.

SansDeshauntWalker and new addition Mike Glover, Cape Bretonfell to the surging Express 108 -104 on Jan.9.

With Glover then making his debut the next night the club rebounded against the Lightning (129 – 122) and then dispatched of the Sudbury Five (121 – 116) on Jan. 12.

As a whole the Highlanders –already amongst the league-leaders in many offensive categories – played exceptionally well in its attack as it went 34-of-81 from three-pointers (42 per cent) while marching to the free-throw line 89 in itstrio of matches, making 72 (81 per cent).

Then there's Bruce Massey.

So long as the scoring dynamo is in the Highlanders'lineupthe club will have a chance to win.

This past week hedropped two 40-plus point games, averaging 35.33 points, seven rebounds, 6.33 assists and three steals on 55.22 per cent shooting.

Similar to the Sampson Carter situation on the Island, Highlanders' management mustn't waste such a special season and should do everything in their power togo all in around the MVP candidatesooner rather than later.

Has there ever been a NBLC fall from grace asswiftasthe Magic's over the past month?

Losers ofseven of its last 10games,the formerly dominant teamhit rock bottom this past week when they were blown out the waters108 – 91 against the last-seeded Storm, thenlosers of 10 straight,on Jan.11.

That may have been the wake-up call the club needed however as the Magic rebounded the very next night againstan improved Halifax Hurricanes rosterin a thrilling114 –111 come-from-behindroad victory.

The latter win brings with it some serious moxie as the 'Canes led by12 points with just 3:23 to go in the fourth quarter before Moncton rallied for the improbableovertime win.

With the club only suitingup once(Jan. 18) in the next 15 days,the Magic either have plenty ofpractice time for fine-tuningor a decent window for management to seriously consider outside solutions.

Another trio of winsmeans another step forward and a deserved leap in the rankings for the Express.

Holding a3-0record for the week, Windsor hasnow won six of its last sevengames and must be consideredone of the NBLC's most dangerous teamsrightbehind the Edge and Titans.

The league's best three-point shooting team lived up to its billing this past as the club went a combined28 –of- 71 (39.43 per cent)from downtown in itsmatches –eclipsing its 37.3 per cent seasonal average.

Whether Windsor's new foundmojo is simplya flash in a pan or not will immediately be tested howeveras six of its next seven games will be on the road.

Without its second leading scorer and best assist-man, Garret Williamson, leading the charge the Lightning floundered twice down the stretch this past week conceding two overtime losses in a 0-3 winless week.

Indeed with all things considered,London could have – and likely should have – come away with atleast one, if not two victories especiallywhen noting the Lightning's excellent floor game.

Theyonly turned the ball over10 times per outing–and that'sincluding two overtimes.

However withLondon havingto overcome 18 and 16 point deficits simply to make it competitive – as was the case againstCape Breton and Windsor- perhaps it shouldn't come as a surprise that the club ran out of gasin the home stretch of all threematches.

The path to .500 doesn't get much easier for the two-time champs as they now headout on a toughthree-game stretch against theTitans and Edge (twice).

TheRiptide got off to a fabulous start in its current five-game road trip as it went 2-1 this past week beating the Titans (105-104, Jan.10) and Lightning (107-98, Jan.13.) butconcedingto the Express (102-86, Jan.11).

The league's worst offensive team continued its hot streak as it eclipsed the 100-point barrier in twoof its three matches– perhaps not be coincidence, resulting in two wins.

Afteronly hitting the century markthree times in its first 11 games, the Riptide have eclipsed that totalin four of its last six games, resulting ina renewed competitive spiritas three of its last four defeats havebeen withinseven points or less.

If Saint John is to keepup with the pack, Frank Bartley must continue to play at his current First-Team NBLC level; theAmerican averaged 25 points (53.06 per cent field goal shooting) and five rebounds for the week.

Another repeat week for Saint John should bump give them a rare bump up come week 10.

Whether the Storm went winless the rest of the week or not, week nine had to be considered an immediate successas the club snapped its league-high10-game losing streak on Jan. 11 against the Magic in a 108 – 91 win.

Both played a pivotal role in the victory as Bouchard went for 18points (six-of-10field goal shooting) while Robinson tallied 16 points (six-of-eight field goal shooting) and five rebounds in lieu of Alex Campbell who – tohis credit – was also soliddespite the bench demotion withnine points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Riding high off that momentum the Storm also blew awaythe Hurricanes118–100on Jan. 13, marking the club's firstconsecutive win streak since Dec.1.

Given all theweeks of futility leading up to week nine,it's still not enough to move them up a spot.